Oil-pbess



Patented Aug. 15,

2 SH EETS-SHEET M. B. GREEN.

` OIL PRESS.

\ APPLICATION HLED APR.4.1916.

attenua,

M. B. GREEN.

0|L PRESS.

APPLICAIION FILED APR. 4| 1916.

1,194,997. PatentedAug. 15,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

www@ i oEEioE.

MICHAEL B. GREEN, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

OIL-PRESS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application led April 4, 1916. Serial No. 88,903.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL B. GREEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee,have invented new and useful Improvements in Oil-Presses, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to oil presses and more particularly to the boxesand mats used in connection therewith.

As is well known, the old process of pressure by extraction using theold style hair mat has great advantages in point of quantity of oilexpressed, owing to the porous character of such mats whereby maximumexpression is allowed. Such method of extraction,liowever, is slow andexpensive, and in order to overcome this objection it has heretoforebeen proposed to use mats in the form of perforated metal plates. Thisperforate plate method is much more rapid and much less expensive thanthe hair mat method, but objectionable on account of less yield, due todeficient porosity, and to liability of distortion of the plates underpressure.`

In my prior Patents No. 1,061,839, dated May 13, 1913, and No.1,081,905, dated Dec.

16, 1913, and in my prior application Ser. 1

No. 50,058, filed Sept. 10, 1915, I have disclosed mats of aconstruction which combine to a large extent the qualities of porosityand yielding capacity of the hair mat with the working Space oftheperforate plate mat, and which, at the same time, are free from theaforesaid objections to mats of the character referred to. l

The present invention appertains to metallic mats and boxes of thegeneral character set forth in my aforesaid patents and application, andhas for its object to provide devices of this character which, like myaforementioned devices, are designed to secure maximum expression of oilwith speed of action, and to also provide means for improving theporosity of thc mats and boxes and facilitating the drainage off of theoil as expressed.

The present invention further has for its object to provide aconstruction which enables a maximum number of boxes and mats to be usedin a given size of press thus increasing the capacity of the press;which simplifies the constructionand increases the drainage capacity Aofthe mats while affording maximum strength and resistance to partsdistortion; and which secures a' better guiding and supporting` actionto prevent displacement or canting of the mats and displacement of thecake from between the crushing surfaces.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thefeatures of con struction, combination and arrangement of hereinafterfully ldescribed and Claimed, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings in which vFigure 1 is an elevationof an oil press embodying myinvention with a number of the boxes in section. Fig. 2 is a top planview of one of the mats. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view throughthe same. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlargedscale. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary corner view of some of the mats'illustrating the manner of suspending and slidably connecting the same.Fig. 0 is a detail sectional View thereof.

To illustrate the invention I have shown an ordinary oil pressconsisting of a base l, corner posts or uprights 2, a head 3 carrying abase plate at, which receives the thrust of the -boxes as they arepropelled by the ram, the plunger 5 of which only is shown.

Slidably suspended upon bolts G are boxes which consist of a pluralityof what may be termed base plates 7, each of which may bev corrugatedupon its under surface, as shown at 8, and which is secured, as by meansofv screws 9 to the mat 10, hav-ing upwardly projecting guide flanges orplates 1,1, adapt. ed to slidably receive and engage the base plate andmat of the next adjacent upper box. More correctly speaking, the boxconsists of the undersurfaces of one base plate, the mat supported uponthe next lower plate, and the guiding flanges 11 upon such mat. Thecakes from which the oil is to be expressed are spaced upon the surfacesof the mats and squeezed between the mats and cooperating base plates,by the movement of the boxes upward into collapsing relation under theaction of the hydraulic ram, as will be readily understood. The oilexpressed in the operation of the press is discharged, partly bydrainage off the ends of the mats into a suitable receiving trough, notshown, andv partly through the perforated mats, the oil descending frombox to box and being discharged from the final or lowermost box of theseries into a suitable receptacle or into the aforementioned trough,

as will be readily understood. have not considered it necessary toenterinto detail .about the construction and arrangement of contiguousside edges arranged in abutting 1 relation, and all the bars of theseries being fastened to the base plate 7 by the screws 9 and to eachother by means of transverse rivets 14 or other suitable fasteningmeans. The upper surfaces of the bars are transversely corrugated toform oil receiving depressions 15 and produce a crushing surface whichcoperates With the corrugated surface of the coacting base plate 7.

The meeting faces or sides of the bars are formed with semi-ellipticalgrooves 16, which cooperate-,to provide longitudinally extending oildischarge channels 17, opening through the ends of the mat. Formed inthe upper surfaces of the bars are vertical transverse slots or slits 18which open through the corrugated face of the mat. These slits or slotsare arranged in transverse series, on opposite sides of the longitudinalcenter of each bar, the slots of each series being staggered Withyrespect to or alternating in arrangement with the slots 'of the otherseries, yand the slots of adjacent bars being staggered with respect toor alternating i arrangement with each other. This constru tion providesthe corrugated surface of the mat with drain channels of which a maximumnumber may be employed and which will afford a maximum extent ofaggregate perforated surface giving a maximum range of porosity ordrain- (age capacity to the mat, without weakening or impairing thestrength and rigidity of the mat bars. The slots extend down through theoverhanging portions of the walls of thegrooves 16 and communicate withsaid grooves for the conduction ofthe oil thereto, so that the largechannels 17 may carnv ofi' or discharge the oil with ease 'and facility.

For the purpose of further increasing the drainage capacity of the mat,the meeting edges of the bars are cut away or spaced slightly to providelongitudinal drain channels 19, and below the surfaces forming thesechannels the side faces of the bars above the grooves 16 are formed Withinclined surfaces 20 diverging downwardly and progressively widening theslots 20 to insure the rapidpassage of the oil to the channels 17 and toprevent any liability of clogging or choking of the slots. Still furtherdrainage capacity is afforded by providing the surfaces 20 withrecessesor indentations 21, providing auxiliary clearance channels alongthe walls of the slots 19, as

will be readily understood, by which means .any particles of the oilcake which may pass downward with the oil will be prevented fromclogging in or gumming up the longitudinal drain passages or tending toclog the transverse. drain slots. Flaring or conical auxiliary drainpassages 22 are also formed in the overl'ianging walls of the grooves1G, said sockets or nozzles having their reduced or restricted endscommunicating with the transverse slots and their widened endscommunicating with the groovesA` so as to further and additionallyprovide for the free drainage ofl' of the oil. These passages alsoprovide for the use of a steam blast device composed of slotted tubeswhich may be fitted within the channels 17 and employed for the purposeof injecting blasts ot' hot steam upward through the slots for thepurpose of clearing the saine of any obstructions and cleaning the sameat intervals in a ready and convenient manner. 1t will be observed thatthe drain slots have their inner walls inclined downwardly and outwardlyat an angle to the channel forming grooves, thus imparting to each slota substantially V-form, whereby the discharge of' oil and particles ofcake will be facilitated, owing t0 the natural shedding action bygravity of the walls of the slot.

The side bars 13 of the mat are provided with outwardly extendinghorizontal flanges 23, each provided at its respective ends with seriesof openings 21. Through some of the openings at each end of each fiangepass bolts 25 detachably securing to the flange a bracket 26, and therespective brackets 26, which are thus arranged adjacent to the cornerportions of the mat, are provided with slotted or bifurcated guidemembers 27 slidably engaging guide rods or bars 2S fitted in key ways orgrooves in the corner posts 2 of the press frame, whereby each mat isslidably mounted for vertical motion. The mats are supported andsuspended from the head portion of the press frame vand from each otherby the bolts G, which engage certain of the' other perfor-ations 2l, andeach of these bolts is rigidly connected with a flange ofv one of themats and slidably engages the flange of the next adjacent mat, theseries of bolts throughout being staggered in arrangement, so that themats may move upwardly in collapsing relation 1'f'ithout interferencebetween their guiding connections, the mode of mounting described alsopermitting theniats to be removed andreapplied in a ready and convenientmanner. The guide flanges. 11 project upwardly from the flanges 23 ofthe side bars 13,` and the flanges of each mat are adapted to encompassand ride in guided connection with the base plate and bars of thenext-adjacent upper mat and forni therewith a compression box, as' willbe readily underand facility..

stood, such action applying except in the case of the uppermost mat thebars and flanges of which coperate with the upper stationary plate 4 onthe head portion of the press frame. It will be evident that by thedescribed mode of mounting the mats each mat will be firmly and securelysupported, and during` the compressing action the flanges 11, by runningin guided engagement with the box forming portion above, will maintainthe mat in a true horizontal position and prevent it from tilting orcantingl and at the same time serve as guards t'o prevent the oil cakefrom escaping at the sides of the mat and dropping down without beingsubjectedv to compression, evenness of compression and an avoidance ofwaste of material being thereby' secured.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of thepress will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the inventionprovides a construction of mat which will be firmly supported and guidedin its movementswith lthe stated resultant advantages. It will also beseen that by the construction described the porosity or drainagecapacity of the mat will be greatly increased over prior .constructionsof metallic mats, by which the expressing quality of the ordinary hairmat will be simulated to a very high degree, together with the quicknessof operation of the perforated metallic mat, while avoiding the wellknown objections to mats of these classes. Furthermore, the constructiondescribed allows the drain passages in the mats to be blown out andrelieved of adhering material with great convenience Another andimportant advantage of my invention resides inthe fact that by makingeach mat of a single base plate or apron and compression bars directlysecured' thereto, much space is saved over structures employ- 4ing abase plate in addition to the apron ,to

which the bars vare attached, the aggregate space then being suiiicientin a press of the capacity of, say, fourteen boxes, ,to enable anadditional box to be employed, thus increasing the capacity of thepress.

I claim 1. A mat for oil presses comprising bars having grooves in theirmeeting faces forming oil discharge channels, cut-away portions alongthe margins of their meeting edges forming longitudinal drain passagescommunicating with the. channels, transverse slots opening' throughtheir surfaces and lateral faces and communicating with thechannels, andconical passages leading up- A through their upper surfaces and sideedges and communicating with said channels,.cut

aw'ay portions along the margins of their meeting edgesforming'fpassages communicating with the channels, and notches orrecesses formed in the walls of said. marginal portions.

l. A mat for oil presses comprising bars having grooves formingdischarge channels below their surfaces, transverse slots intersectingsaid channels, and conical passages extending upwardly and inwardly atan angle from the inner walls of the channels and intersecting the slotsat points inward from the lateral faces of the bars.

5. A mat for oil presses comprising bars having grooves in thelmeetingfaces thereof forming oil discharge channels, cut-away portions alongthe margins of their' meeting edges above the channels providinglongitudinal drain passages communicating with said channels, transverseslots opening through the surfaces and lateral faces of the barsandcommunicating with said longitudinal drain passages and channels, andconical passages extending at an upward and inward angle from theinnerwalls of the channels and intersecting said transverse slots at lpointsinward from the lateral faces of the ars.

6. A mat 'for oil presses comprising bars having grooves in theirmeeting faces forming oil discharge channels, slots opening throughtheir upper surfaces and side edges and communicating' with saidchannels, cut away portions along the margins of the meeting edges ofthe bars forming passages comslots at points inwardly; from the meetingfaces of the bars. l

' In testimony whereof I aix my signature. A MICHAEL B. GREEN.

